Quantitative Reasoning (QR) courses are intended to provide an introduction to numerical and/or symbolic modes of representation; to develop critical thinking involving numbers; and to help students gain an appreciation of the benefits and limitations of numerical data and for the various ways it can be collected, used, and represented.

The purpose of the QR requirement is to help students develop basic quantitative skills such as data collection, analysis, and interpretation. Bachelor of Arts students are strongly encouraged to complete QR courses early in their program of study because the knowledge gained and skills acquired are often necessary in more advanced courses. A student should be able to think both qualitatively and quantitatively and be capable of choosing which approach to use in any particular circumstance. To understand the fundamental issues facing our society requires basic numeracy, and the ability to think intelligently about such issues is a life skill.

As far as possible, the courses used to satisfy the core requirements for the B.A. degree should be in the Humanities and/or Social Sciences, offered by the Faculty of Arts. In the core requirements calendar entry, the inclusion of approved QR courses that are offered by departments outside of Arts is confined to those programs that offer a B.A. Major.

Quantitative Reasoning Course Principles

The following principles must be observed in all Faculty of Arts courses used to fulfill the Quantitative Reasoning requirement of the Bachelor of Arts degree:

a) In the university calendar, the description of a designated QR course in the Faculty of Arts must contain the following statement: “All sections of this course follow QR guidelines available at www.mun.ca/arts/qr”.

b) Quantitative Reasoning courses should be as free as possible from prerequisites.

c) Quantitative Reasoning courses are normally offered at the 1000-level or 2000-level. However, some Faculty of Arts departments offer introductory QR courses at the 3000-level and are included in the list of eligible courses.

Guidelines for QR Courses

The calendar entry of a Quantitative Reasoning course must clearly demonstrate that students will have opportunity to become familiar with foundational/introductory aspects of:

• the mathematical or other systemic use of numbers and numerical data and/or
• quantitative analysis and/or logical reasoning involving numbers and/or
• the use and interpretation of graphical representations of data and/or
• the use of basic computer spreadsheet or statistical programs.

Administrative Matters

1. The Chair of the Committee on Undergraduate Studies (CUGS), in consultation with the relevant department Head or designate, is responsible for coordinating a periodic review of designated QR courses. On the recommendation of CUGS, the Quantitative Reasoning guidelines shall be updated by the Faculty of Arts. Academic unit Heads are responsible for ensuring that designated QR courses observe the principles within those guidelines. 
2. Courses that are to be eligible to satisfy the Quantitative Reasoning requirement are designated by an appropriate indication in the University Calendar. Such a notation must be approved by Senate, after which the Office of the Registrar will apply the appropriate attribute on the course catalogue in Banner. The application of this attribute on Banner will allow easy identification of courses which satisfy this requirement when that Office advises faculty, staff, and students. In the event that a course substitution is deemed necessary by the Committee on Undergraduate Studies, such a decision will not set a precedent, and a record of the Committee’s decision will be maintained by the Office of the Registrar in student files. If CUGS approves a substitution, it shall ask the Head of the corresponding academic unit if that unit wishes to initiate a calendar change proposal to formally assign the QR designation to the course.
3. Information in the University Calendar and approved by Senate prevails over information in these guidelines.